500 HP of American Muscle Options For About $50K; No Lamborghini Here

What 500 HP Cars Can You Buy For Around $50k?

The Lamborghini Aventador LP 750-4 Superveloce, announced just the month at the Geneva Motor Show is now claimed to be the fastest car on planet earth. It will hit 124 mph in 8.6 seconds, but let’s face it, the closest we’ll get to one is if we’re walking down Rodeo Drive and Paris Hilton drives by in her Superveloce (with some little dog in her lap – doesn’t that frost your pumpkin?

So here are some cars that the average person, if they’ve lived right, have a good credit record, have a decent trade-in, and are willing to trade-in the savings bonds that your Grandma has been sending you since you were, you could actually buy one of these cars.

Chevy Camaro ZL1

The Chevy Camaro ZL1 puts down 580 horsepower and 556 lb.-ft. of torque produced by an all-aluminum 6.2L supercharged engine. magnetic ride control, anchor-like brakes braking and four wheel independent suspension. There’s also a Performance Traction Management systems that allows you to select choose from five performance settings. Base MSRP is $55,505 (I know, the ZL1 and some of the other cars on this list have an MSRP of over $50K, but we know our readers are clever negotiators).

Ford Shelby GT500

The Ford GT500 is powered by an aluminum 5.8L DOHC 32-valve V8 engine, which once a supercharger is added produces 662 horsepower. Stopping this beast are six piston Brembo caliper and 14inch Brembo rotors up front, with single piston calipers squeezing 11.8 inch rotors in the back. Putting power to the ground is a Torsen limited slip differential, along with driver-adjustable Bilstein electronic dampers. MSRP is $55,110.

Dodge Charger SRT 392

The Dodge Charger SRT 392 features the same aluminum V-8 engine block and Hemi cylinder heads, but without the supercharger. Net output is 485 horsepower is a little short of the 500 horsepower we promised in the headline, but let’s call it a rounding error. The SRT 392 picks up the brake package from the Charger Hellcat: Brembo 15.4-inch two-piece slotted and vented rotors and 6-piston mono-block aluminum calipers in the front. The rears feature 13.8-inch rotors and 4-piston calipers. MSRP is $47,385.

Dodge Challenger Hellcat

The 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat, powered by a supercharged 378 cubic inch Hemi engine produces an earthturning 707 horsepower making it what Chrysler claims to be the most powerful and fastest muscle car ever. Besides the motor, there are some pretty nifty chassis features as well including 6-piston Brembo Brakes with 15.4 inch vented and slotted rotors, and an adjustable suspension with Bilstein shocks. MSRP is $59,995.

Budget Bonus: Ford Mustang GT

$50,000 too step for you? The absolute budget champion is the Ford Mustang GT. Compared to both the lowest-priced V-8 Challenger and Camaro, the Ford Mustang GT comes out ahead on both spec and price. Consider this: A 5.0 liter V-8 pumping out 435 horsepower and can hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds. Not too long ago this was supercar territory. It’s now available for $32,995 MSRP.

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